2. As part of primary health care and
because of the increasing cost of
drugs, the use of locally available
medicinal plants and herbs in the
Philippine backyard and field
have been found to be effective
in the treatment of common
ailments as attested to by the
National Science Development
Board, other government and
private agencies/ persons
engaged in research.
The DOH is advocating the use of
the following ten herbal plants.
HERBAL MEDICINE
3. REPUBLIC ACT 8423
Otherwise known as TAMA
TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
ACT OF 1997
An act creating the Philippine Institute of
Traditional and Alternative Health Care
(PITAHC) to accelerate the development
of traditional and alternative health care
in the Philippines, providing for a traditional
and alternative health care development
fund and for other purposes.
HERBAL MEDICINE
4. 1. Sambong
2. Akapulko
3. Niyog-niyogan
4. Tsaang Gubat
5. Ampalaya
6. Lagundi
7. Ulasimang Bato
8. Bawang
9. Bayabas
10. Yerba Buena
10 HERBAL MEDICINES APPROVED
BY THE DOH
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HERBAL MEDICINE
5. Reminders on the Use of
Herbal Medicine
Avoid the use of insecticides as these may
leave poison on plants.
In the preparation of herbal medicine, use a
clay pot and remove cover while boiling at low
heat.
Use only the part of the plant being
advocated.
Follow accurate dose of suggested
preparation.
Use only one kind of herbal plant for each type
of symptoms or sickness.
Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh
parts like leaves when using dried parts.
HERBAL MEDICINE
6. Reminders on the Use of
Herbal Medicine
Decoctions loose potency after some time.
Dispose of decoctions after one day. To keep
fresh during the day, keep lukewarm in a flask
or thermos.
Leaves, fruits, flowers or nuts must be mature
before harvesting. Less medicinal substances
are found on young parts.
Stop giving the herbal medication in case
untoward reaction such as allergy occurs.
If signs and symptoms are not relieved after 2
or 3 doses of herbal medication, consult a
doctor
HERBAL MEDICINE
7. A plant that reaches 1
½ to 3 meters in height
with rough hairy leaves.
Young plants around
mother plant may be
separated when they
have three or more
leaves.
HERBAL MEDICINE
SAMBONG
Scientific Name: Blumea
balsamifera
8. USES:
Anti-edema
Diuretic
Anti-urolithiasis
PREPARATION:
Boil chopped leaves in water for 15
minutes until one glassful remains.
Cool and strain.
Divide decoction into 3 parts. Drink
one part 3 times a day.
NOTE: Sambong is not a medicine
for kidney infection
HERBAL MEDICINE
SAMBONG
9. Ringworm Bush
Bayas-bayasan
This plant is about 1 to 2
meters tall
The leaves are embraced
with 8 to 20 oblong-
elliptical shaped leaflets
It has flowers with oblong
sepals
HERBAL MEDICINE
AKAPULKO
Scientific Name: Cassia alata
10. USES:
Anti-fungal: Tinea
Flava, Ringworm, Athlete
’s Foot and Scabies
PREPARATION:
Fresh, matured leaves
are pounded.
Apply as a soap to the
affected part 1 to 2
times a day.
HERBAL MEDICINE
AKAPULKO
11. Chinese Honey Suckle
A vine which bears tiny
fruits and grows wild in
backyards.
The seeds must come from
mature, dried but newly
opened fruits.
Propagated through stem
cuttings about 20cm in
height.
HERBAL MEDICINE
NIYUG-NIYOGAN
Scientific Name: Quisqualis
indica L.
12. USES:
Anti-helmintic (used to expel parasitic
worms.)
PREPARATION:
Seeds of niyug-niyogan are eaten
raw two hours before the patient’s
last meal of the day.
Adults may take 10 seeds; children 4
to 7 years of age may eat up to four
seeds only; ages 8 to 9 may take six
seeds and seven seeds may be
eaten by children 10 to 12 years old.
Not to be given to children below
four years old.
HERBAL MEDICINE
NIYUG-NIYOGAN
13. Forest Tea or Wild Tea
A shrub with small, shiny
nice-looking leaves that
grows in wild
uncultivated areas and
forests.
HERBAL MEDICINE
TSAANG GUBAT
Scientific Name: Carmona
retusa
14. USES:
Diarrhea
Stomach ache
PREPARATION:
Boil the following amount of
chopped leaves in 2 glasses of
water for 15 minutes or until
amount of water goes down to
1 glass. Cool and strain.
Wash leaves and chop. Boil
chopped leaves in 1 glass of
water for 15 minutes. Cool and
filter/strain and drink.
HERBAL MEDICINE
TSAANG GUBAT
15. Bitter Gourd or Bitter melon
A climbing vine with tendrils
that grow up to 20 cms long.
Leaves are heart-
shaped, which are 5 to 10 cms
in diameter
Fruits have ribbed and wrinkled
surface that are fleshy green
with pointed ends at length
and has a bitter taste.
HERBAL MEDICINE
AMPALAYA
Scientific Name: Momordica
charantia
16. USES:
Lowers blood sugar levels
Diabetes Mellitus (Mild-non
insulin dependent)
PREPARATION:
Gather and wash young leaves
very well. Chop. Boil 6
tablespoons in two glassfuls of
water for 15 minutes under low
fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and
strain. Take one third cup 3
times a day after meals.
HERBAL MEDICINE
AMPALAYA
17. 5 Leaved-Chaste Tree
A shrub growing wild in vacant
lots and waste land.
Matured branches are
planted.
The flowers are blue and bell-
shaped.
The small fruits turn black when
ripe. It is better to collect the
leaves when are in bloom.
HERBAL MEDICINE
LAGUNDI
Scientific Name: Vitex
negundo
18. USES:
Asthma and cough
Fever, Dysentery, Colds &
Pain
Skin diseases and wounds
Headache
Rheumatism, sprain, contu
sions, insect bites.
Aromatic bath for sick
patients
HERBAL MEDICINE
LAGUNDI
19. PREPARATION:
For Asthma, cough and
fever, boil chopped raw fruits
or leaves in 2 glasses of water
left for 15 minutes until the
water left in only 1 glass
(decoction). Strain.
For Dysentery, colds and
pain, boil a handful of leaves
and flowers in water to
produce a glass full of
decoction 3 time a day.
HERBAL MEDICINE
LAGUNDI
20. PREPARATION:
For skin diseases
(dermatitis, scabies, ulcer, ecze
ma) and wounds, prepare a
decoction of the leaves. Wash
and clean the skin/wound with
the decoction.
For headache, crushed leaves
may be applied on the
forehead.
For
rheumatism, sprain, contusions
and insect bites, pound the
leaves and apply on the
affected part.
HERBAL MEDICINE
LAGUNDI
21. Silver bush or Shiny
bush
Pansit-pansitan
A weed with heart-
shaped leaves that
grow in shady parts of
the garden and yard.
HERBAL MEDICINE
ULASIMANG BATO
Scientific Name: Peperomia
pellucida
22. USES:
Lowers uric acid (Rheumatism
and Gout)
PREPARATION:
Wash the leaves well. One
and a half cup leaves are
boiled in two glassfuls of water
over low fire. Do not cover
pot. Cool and strain. Divide
into three parts and drink
each part 3 times a day a
day.
HERBAL MEDICINE
ULASIMANG BATO
23. PREPARATION:
May also be eaten as
salad. Wash the leaves
well. Prepare one and a
half cups of leaves (not
closely packed). Divide
into three parts and take
as salad 3 times a day.
HERBAL MEDICINE
ULASIMANG BATO
24. Garlic
A low herb and grows
up to sixty cms high
Leaves are flat and
linear
Bulbs consist of several
tubers
HERBAL MEDICINE
BAWANG
Scientific Name: Allium
sativum
25. USES:
For hypertension
Toothache
Lowers cholesterol levels in the
blood
PREPARATION:
May be fried, roasted, soaked
in vinegar for 30 minutes, or
blanched in boiled water for 5
minutes. Take two pieces three
times a day after meals.
HERBAL MEDICINE
BAWANG
26. PREPARATION:
For toothache, pound
a small piece and
apply to affected
part.
CAUTION: Take on full
stomach to prevent
stomach and intestinal
ulcers.
HERBAL MEDICINE
BAWANG
27. Guava
A tree about 4 to 5
meters high with tiny
white flowers with
round or oval fruits
that are eaten raw.
HERBAL MEDICINE
BAYABAS
Scientific Name: Psidium
guajava
28. USES:
For washing wounds
For toothache
For diarrhea
PREPARATION:
Warm decoction is used for gargle.
Freshly pounded leaves are used
for toothache. Guava leaves are
to be washed well and chopped.
Boil for 15 minutes at low fire. Do
not cover pot. Cool and strain
before use.
HERBAL MEDICINE
BAYABAS
29. Peppermint
A small multi-
branching aromatic
herb. The leaves are
small, elliptical and
with toothed margin.
The stem creeps to the
ground, and develop
roots.
HERBAL MEDICINE
YERBA BUENA
Scientific Name: Mentha
cordifelia
30. USES:
For pain in different parts
of the body as head
ache, stomach ache
Rheumatism, arthritis and
headache
Cough and cold
Swollen gums & toothache
Menstrual and gas pain
Nausea and fainting
Insect bites & Pruritus
HERBAL MEDICINE
YERBA BUENA
31. PREPARATION:
For pain in diff. parts of the
body, boil chopped
leaves in 2 glasses of water
for 15 minutes. Cool and
strain.
For rheumatism, arthritis
and headache, crush the
fresh leaves and squeeze
sap. Massage sap on
painful parts with
eucalyptus.
HERBAL MEDICINE
YERBA BUENA
32. PREPARATION:
For cough and cold, get about
10 fresh leaves and soak in a
glass of hot water. Drink as tea.
Acts as an expectorant.
For toothache, cut fresh plant
and squeeze sap. Soak a piece
of cotton in the sap and insert
this in aching tooth cavity.
Mouth should be rinsed by
gargling salt solution before
inserting the cotton.
To prepare salt solution: add 5g of
table salt to one glass of water.
HERBAL MEDICINE
YERBA BUENA
33. PREPARATION:
For Menstrual pain and gas
pain, soak a handful of leaves in
a glass of boiling water. Drink
infusion. It induces menstrual
flow and sweating.
For nausea and fainting, crush
leaves and apply at nostrils of
patient.
For insect bites, crush leaves
and apply juice on affected
part or pound leaves until
paste-like and rub this on the
affected part.
HERBAL MEDICINE
YERBA BUENA
